Rule that narrowed disclosure rules for corporations, labor organizations was impermissible

A judge says the Federal Election Commission impermissibly narrowed disclosure requirements for corporations and labor organizations that finance electioneering communications, the political ads that run close to an election.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that the FEC regulation was arbitrary, capricious and contrary to law.

The judge's decision came in a lawsuit over electioneering communications in congressional campaigns — the broadcasts, cable or satellite communications distributed shortly before an election that refer to a clearly identified candidate for office. Jackson said the commission initiated a rulemaking in response to a Supreme Court ruling, but that nothing in the Supreme Court case amounted to a basis for the FEC to narrow the disclosure rules Congress had enacted.